KYLO’S POVAs I attempted to do coal with the figures displayed before me on the large monitor on the front end of the long polished conference table that dominated the center of the room I sat at the head of.My CFO was going on and on about the latest figures which I should have been listening to, about gross income, net income, and new ways of expanding the business.Although I tried my best I failed to focus on the lecture as my thoughts frequently shifted to the woman who was sitting next to me, on my right.Varya was sitting at the table and, as always, carefully wrote something in her notebook with a pen. On the face of it, she had been calm, collected; all the polished professional that she had emerged to be in this business. But I knew better.I could tell from her body language, that she was as anxious as I was, she could not even glance at me from the corner of her eye as if one fearful glance might betray something she dared not let out.It wasn’t just her that was differe
KYLO’S POVI should have anticipated it. For days, weeks even, there was rising pressure – it had to snap sometime. And then when it finally did happen, caught off guard I was…in what way; dumbfounded by my own sudden vulnerability.In the beginning like any other day…last thing ‘on my mind’ is Varya. Arriving early at work; in an effort to make myself lose all remaining thoughts about Varya in piles of work.The conference room cleared out, team engaged in preparation for the next big project. There came some tapping on the door which drew my attention from studying reports.“Come in,” I called out without lifting my eyes from the documents.And then she came through the door heels clacking on the marble floor bringing with her familiar click. Confidently I lifted up my head expecting to find one of the assistants there but rather saw Dora much too pleased with herself“Kylo dear,” she purred entering the office like she had a right to do so, “I thought I would drop by and check how
KYLO’S POVThe decision wasn’t sudden. For weeks it gnawed away at me as though some slow fire boiled on deep inside my head forever insisting upon itself. Only when Varya grudgingly suggested we give a shot together in putting things right between us did something go click in me?My wife wasn’t just someone whom I married; she was an individual who deserved dignity, calmness, and security at home like everybody else. Action had to be taken because righting what went wrong was my business.The dwelling turned into a battleground yet I could not afford to keep it that way any longer. To really give our union a real shot at success that is.Dora and Cassandra had crossed boundaries too many times before, but I should have acted sooner than this. I was complicit in their behavior through my silence. But no more.It was time to reclaim my house—and my marriage.That morning, after breakfast, I found myself standing in the doorway of the living room where Dora and Cassandra lounged on the
VARYA’S POVThe office was eerily quiet after the storm that was Dora and Cassandra. I was standing beside wide windows, observing the skyline of the city, trying to comprehend everything that had just occurred.The dull humming buzz of the office still surrounded me – ringing telephones, people arriving to or leaving meetings – but it all felt like a distant echo; as if I was covered in a veil of obscurity and ambiguity.Kylo ordered them away from him. He really sent both Dora and Cassandra to town, out of his dwelling place, out of his workplace, and away from me.I did not know what to feel about that.Part of me wanted to be relieved. After all, they had made my life such an agony for so long. They had disgraced me, belittled me, and tried their best to maintain my position as the most unwanted wife in this big mansion. Yet there was something about it that made me think that this was not an act of kindness or loyalty from Kylo.There was no reason for him to suddenly act this wa
“I’ve been alone in that house, in this marriage, since the day we signed that contract. So why now, Kylo? Why are you suddenly acting like you care?”He cast his gaze downward and grimaced as if searching for words that should never be uttered. “But I do,” he finally spoke.His voice was rough. “I care too much about you. And that makes me terrified.”My eyes popped out as I gazed at him, and suddenly my heart began to throb painfully. I was speechless. Part of me wanted to trust him, to have him hug me and make me feel good by saying we would be fine in the future.Yet in equal measure, another side always wondered what happened to make him this way and why all of a sudden he seemed to care so much."I’m not sure if I can trust you," I murmured, tears brimming in my eyes “Not after everything.”Kylo’s face relaxed and he moved another step nearer and nearer to me. “I don’t expect you to trust me right from now,” he added softly.“But I am ready to show it to you I want a normal and
That night when I was dressing in front of the mirror, I tried to adjust the material of the dress over my hips. And I was stunned that it was very fitted and even my curves were well embraced by the dress.Suddenly, I saw the face of a stranger, the woman who posed as a classy, well-groomed and, well, . . . out of place.This was not something I got to do in my past relationships or at least I was not good at it. Not anymore.The sound of Kylo’s footsteps approaching helped me out of my reverie and when I turned around I saw him standing in the doorway wearing a black suit that made him the capable CEO he was.But there was a gentleness in his eyes as he looked at me now, a gentleness that robbed me of my words.‘You look beautiful’, he said in a matter-of-fact way, but his words and the way he was looking at me, was enough to make the room feel much warmer.I could see a reddening of color cross my face and I averted my eyes unsure of how to react. Like all things in life, positive
In his voice, there was no question, just an order that I had to obey.When we got out of the car, the coolness of night blew against my cheeks. Kylo held onto my hand and took me inside without uttering much.The moment we crossed the threshold, the air became different; it was heavier and had a certain feel in it that I could not comprehend but could sense deep inside me.There were no lights. Instead, we walked through the house’s shadows as each footstep brought us closer to our fate. While climbing upstairs together, my heart beat fast due to the silence that existed between us louder than any other human word.Finally when we got to the bedroom place Kylo stopped. He turned facing me with dark eyes filled with something indescribable and deep within him. Gasps escaped my lips when he lifted up his hands thus holding onto my face gently against himself notwithstanding the heat coming out of him.“Varya,” he said softly as if he was afraid to make a noise at all. His thumb ran acr
KYLO’S POVThere were no words exchanged, we were quiet, but the awkwardness of that was not felt and nobody seemed to mind. This, in particular, was a sensation that I could almost smell; there was still the ghost of Varya’s perfume to be felt – the memory of her physical closeness and desire.My fingers clicked on the steering wheel and I felt the internal tension rise like lava rising through the throat of a volcano.Tonight was different in the sense that I could not contain myself and the signals my body was sending to hers. I still could not understand it but touch, even meeting her eye, involved a spark, and it was rather provoking.It was then that I switched off the car engine and looked her way, then at the house. For a moment she gazed at the window and her profile was visible in the tawdry neon lighting from outside the building.I stood there simply looking at her Cheeks parted a little, lips a little open, even the gentle rise and fall of her chest fascinated me. I felt
On getting there people moved faster than usual; nurses ushered me into one room after another helping me put on a hospital gown a long way.Kylo stood still near where people were turned upside down due to the speed of what was happening around them offering some comfort unlike any other distraction I might find outside pain was too much but still stuck onto this thought that everything would soon pay off.Soon, we would meet our baby.Hours passed in a haze of contractions and medical jargon, the world narrowing down to just me, Kylo, and the baby.The pain was intense, like nothing I had ever experienced before, but I refused to give in to fear. This was what I had been preparing for, what we had been waiting for.The baby was coming, and I was going to bring them into the world.Kylo never left my side, his voice a constant source of encouragement, his hand a lifeline as I struggled through each contraction.He wiped my forehead with a cool cloth and whispered words of love and re
This confidence he had in us, in our capacity to manage a new phase boosted my morale erasing my fear places.I remember it very vividly, we were watching a movie one afternoon while lying on the couch in the living room and suddenly I felt a vigorous kick. I choked on my words, putting the palm of my hand on my swollen belly.“What happened?” Kylo asked, sitting up at once.“Everything is okay,” I replied cheerfully. "The baby just kicked really hard. Here, feel."I guided his hand to the spot, and we both waited. A moment later, another kick came, this time even stronger.Kylo's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow... they're strong.""I know," I laughed. "I think we're going to have a little soccer player on our hands."He grinned, leaning down to press a kiss to my belly. "I can't wait to meet you, little one. But take it easy on your mom, okay?"I watched him, my heart swelling with love. Seeing Kylo so involved, and so excited about becoming a father, made everything feel even more s
It was rather reassuring to be back home after the whirlwind which is our honeymoon, yet at the same time it was also rather daunting.The Island was once a beautiful place where all I cared for was our presence, Kylo and I had no other distractions.But it was time for us to step back and face our day-to-day lives, my pregnancy, and everything that came with it.By then I was several months pregnant and some of the symptoms were clearly visible to the naked eye. My tummy protruded out significantly and with that some effect of carrying a child.While the honeymoon had provided respite from pregnancy, the moment we were home, pregnancy was as real as reality could get.When about the house I felt both at ease with being home though nervous about the changes happening to me and around me.It pleased me that Kylo stayed close at my side; his fingers lightly brushing over my lower back.He got more caring and thoughtful than ever; I could easily see how much he cared for me and how much
I trusted him with everything that I had: heart, future, and life. Two days later we were in a private jet, by the influence I guess Kylo had, I had no idea where we were going. Kylo was not on specifics up to that time, but I did not give it much thought. There is nothing like suspense or perhaps relying on the unknown on the person. With that, I reclined in the chair and then looked at the shrinking landscape outside the plane’s small window. Kylo leaned forward, picked up my hand in his, and I looked at him and smiled. “You’re really not going to give me any hints?” I said as calmly as I could, though my voice was visibly laden with curiosity. Kylo chuckled, shaking his head. “Nope. You’ll find out soon enough.” I pouted playfully, but I knew better than to press him. Kylo loved his surprises and I must say, I enjoyed them as well. There’s something good about not knowing what’s next, about just going with the flow and chilling. The flight went by in no time, with Ky
Those days after the wedding were as if I was on honeymoon, loved being in that state, and did not want to wake up. I might as well describe it like this; the tranquility that came over me was one I never felt before. It was as though a weight I had no idea was lifted off my back, allowing me to breathe freely once more. There was a warmth that filled my whole body in place of the constricted knots in my stomach. It is worth noting that in the beginning of the story our marriage can be described as a purely business-like arrangement, a very practical marriage of convenience. But instead with time, it had become something concrete, something lovely. The relationship that Kylo and I had was a product of the most unlikely circumstances and the complacency that I felt as I stared at the house we had constructed together could only be described as profound. It was morning, the sun was shining and the rays of sunlight started entering the room through the windows. I was now pl
Kylo went first, his voice steady as he began to speak.“So Varya,” he began glancing at my eyes all the time,“when we got married for the first time, it was a business deal between us; something that was advantageous to both of us but lacked emotional warmth typical of true marriage. I was unapproachable and even icy; I never gave you the love or respect that you deserved. But as time passed everything changed. I changed.”His grip on my hand tightened more and I could see how sincere he was from his facial expression which told me that he meant every word in every line on his face.“I fell in love with you Varya; it started off slowly before all these sudden feelings hit me. You taught me what it means to be there for someone else genuinely because one wants to change oneself for them.”“And I have caused you pain earlier but today I am making a promise as follows: To be the man whom you deserve; to love you wholly and to build a happy joyful life together based on faithfulness and
The morning of the wedding was as well fine with no clouds in the sky to disturb the blue of the day. Now I found myself back in front of the mirror in my childhood room strapped and ready for this like a kid on Christmas Eve.The dress I bought for my wedding was an off-white, beautiful lace and silk gown that fitted me to perfection. It was plain and elegant and made me feel like flowers were blooming on my dress and the garden we would be getting married in was nearby.My mother was frequently touching my face, fixing my veil in position enrollment arrangement She caught my eye in the mirror and smiled, her expression soft with love and pride.“You look stunning, Varya,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Kylo is a lucky man.”“Thank you, Mom,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly. “I just… I want today to be perfect.”“It will be,” she assured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Today is about you and Kylo, about the love you share. That’s all that matters.
VARYA’S POVThe day after Kylo's proposal felt like waking up in a dream. When dawn parted the curtains and let in the golden rays, it was hard to imagine that only a few hours ago Kylo had proposed to me for real.My hand went to the ring I now wore on my finger and the diamond again shone brightly against the sun, creating rainbows around the room.The moments were somewhat dreamlike and yet whenever I touched the ring on my finger I did not need anyone to tell me that this was all real. Kylo loved me.I stood up from the bed and walked towards the window and I looked outside at the city that was an unspoken character in our story, the one filled with both sorrow and happiness. This led my mind to the wedding which was now even in front of us.They were not an extension of a prior commitment, or repetition of a promise; it was the start of something fresh, of reality. And so the preparations could only be special as well.I could feel the buzz once I made my way downstairs in the ho
He had planned this event to be an entertainment for families, as well as business counterparts. The atmosphere in the room was filled with laughter, echoes of glasses touching, and music.This was ideally the environment that I wanted when I had planned the entire thing, but the feeling that swelled in my chest was almost tangible.I thought I was standing by one of the tall windows of the building looking down on the city below. The twinkling bulbs were of a high intensity and I observed it was dark like the sky at night and this made me take my eyes off it for a while.Yet, there I was thinking about Varya most of the time. It was her that made me develop nerves today and became the reason for this nervous energy in the night.She stood across the room dressed in burgundy dress which enhanced the curves of her body.She was gorgeous and although I was quite far I could notice the look of despair she was masking so well.It was a sadness that I realized that I had provoked and this